Just Another Lonely Night
The Temptations Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Morning
(Morning)
Seems to come so slow
Knowing
(Knowing)
How I need this warming glow

Foolishly, I've made you cry
Confident, you never say goodbye
Darling, that's the reason why

That even in a crowd, laughing out loud, I'm lonely
(Lonely)
For I love you only and without you
Every night's just another lonely night

Falling
(Just another)
Tears are falling from my eyes
I'm calling
(Just another)
Out your name, tearful sigh

How I pray it's not too late
All my life for you I wait
Just call me I won't hesitate
For when you left you took the best of me

I love you, can't you see?
Since you've been gone
Every night's just another lonely night

(Just another)
Since you've been gone my life is so lonely, baby, baby
It's just a
(Just another)
Even my sun is hoping

(Just another)
Oh, it's all I need is you only
(Just another)




I'm just no good without you, baby
I'm just a lonely, lonely

Overall Meaning

The Temptations' "Just Another Lonely Night" is a ballad of a man who has lost his love and is painfully struggling to come to terms with the separation. The first verse acknowledges the passage of time through the slow arrival of morning, which is a contrast to how the warmth of the relationship was quickly apparent. The next verse alludes to the singer's mistakes, inferring that he has committed some errors that have hurt the person he loves. He's sure she'll never abandon him, but the opposite has transpired, and he is paying the price. The chorus illustrates that no matter what social activities he undertakes, without his beloved, every night is lonely.


The second verse details the pain that the singer is going through, his tears flow, and he can't avoid calling her name while remembering how he misses her presence. He hopes that it's not too late for them to get back together and that he's willing to wait for her until she does. The bridge of the song reveals that ever since she left, he has lost the best part of himself, and every night is just a reminder of how alone he is.


Overall, the song contains a lot of pain with wonderfully penned lyrics that resonate well with listeners, and the singer delivers an emotional performance. It gives a sense of the fact that unrequited love can be excruciating, causing lingering sadness long after the relationship ends.


Interesting facts about the song:


- The song was recorded for The Temptations album 'Greatest Hits II.'
- It was written by the talented R&B and soul songwriter Norman Dozier, known for contributing to several big hits including Marvin Gaye's "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)."
- Despite not being one of The Temptations' most significant hits, it was still successful, reaching number 34 on the US R&B charts.
- It was never released as a single in the UK - however, it was played on pirate stations and received a cult following.
- Other songs on the album include "I Wish It Would Rain" and "I Can't Get Next To You."
- During the recording, the band wanted more of a vocal presence from the bass voice of Melvin Franklin, and the plan was to have him take the lead. However, after hearing Dennis Edwards' voice, they decided that he could handle it better.
- It was reissued on CD in 1999 with additional songs not featured on the original album.
- It was one of the last songs to feature David Ruffin before he split from the group.
- The song was performed live by the group on the Ed Sullivan Show.
- The song was also covered by the soulful singer-songwriter Andrew Roachford in 2003.


Chords (Key of E):
Intro: E
Verse: E A B
Chorus: E A B
Bridge: A B E


Line by Line Meaning

Morning
The start of each day comes at an agonizingly slow pace


(Morning)
This slowness is only emphasized by the pain of waking up and realizing that a new day without the one I love has begun


Seems to come so slow
I feel like time is standing still, with each passing morning taking forever to arrive


Knowing
I am all too aware of what the warmth of love feels like


(Knowing)
And without it, I feel cold and empty


How I need this warming glow
I am desperate to feel that love again, to bask in its warmth and feel complete once more


Foolishly, I've made you cry
I have behaved stupidly and caused you pain


Confident, you never say goodbye
But you have remained steadfast, despite my flaws and shortcomings


Darling, that's the reason why
And that unwavering commitment is the reason why I am still so in love with you


That even in a crowd, laughing out loud, I'm lonely
Even when I am surrounded by people and there is laughter all around me, I still feel a deep sense of emptiness and despair


(Lonely)
For my heart is still only filled with love for you, and you alone


For I love you only and without you
I am incapable of loving anyone else, for my love for you consumes my heart and soul


Every night's just another lonely night
And so every night is a painful reminder of what I have lost, and what I long to regain


Tears are falling from my eyes
I am crying uncontrollably, unable to keep my grief from overflowing


Out your name, tearful sigh
All I can do is call out your name and let out sigh after sigh, hoping that somehow you can hear me and return to me


How I pray it's not too late
I am begging and pleading with whatever higher power exists, hoping that my love will not remain forever out of reach


All my life for you I wait
For you are the only one I have ever loved, and I am willing to wait for you as long as it takes


Just call me I won't hesitate
I will drop everything in an instant if you call me, because you are the most important thing in my life


For when you left you took the best of me
I am broken without you, for you are the most important and valuable thing in my life


I love you, can't you see?
I am screaming my love for you from the depths of my soul, hoping that somehow you can hear me


Since you've been gone
Ever since you left my life


Even my sun is hoping
Even the brightest and warmest things in my life have lost their shine without your love to light them


Oh, it's all I need is you only
Nothing else in the world can make me happy or complete without you here by my side


I'm just no good without you, baby
My life is meaningless and empty without you in it


I'm just a lonely, lonely
And so I am left to suffer, alone and forlorn, without the one I love




Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: IVY JO HUNTER, WILLIAM STEVENSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

peter paul

ONE OF THE BEST SONGS EVER MADE BY MOTOWN, AND PAUL WILLIAMS IS SINGING THIS SONG WITH SO MUCH FEELING AND SOUL!!!!!

Beatrice Barfield

Beautiful Song..Paul will make you run RUN TO HIM! MY FAVORITEπŸ₯°πŸ₯°πŸ₯°

Beatrice Barfield

Yes, Paul singing so sweet

John Anderson

At this time in my life I had Smokey, David Eddie, Levi Stubb's as my favorite singers. The I heard Paul Williams sing this cut. He floored me!

John Anderson

@Ssteve Anthony David is my favorite singer, but Paul Williams and Levi Stubb's we're the balladeers at Motown!

Legrand Odom

Love this song.!!!πŸ’•β€οΈπŸŒΉ

5 More Replies...

renaissanceman165

Paul owned this song. I totally agree. Paul is my number one Temptations member. A bad, powerful singer, with a humble personality. A TRUE team player, and professional,; An example for many past, present, and future artists. However, there is a misconception about Levi Stubb's vocal range. Like Temptation David Ruffin, Levi is a tenor. A helden, or heroic tenor, to be exact, capable of dynamic, powerful performance. He is a tenor with a deeper, fuller, richer tone. Being a tenor gives him the stamina to consistently sing in such a high vocal register on all those Four Tops' hits, not unlike another fellow tenor, Dennis Edwards. Check it out! Ciao!!!

Terry Goodbeer

I always thought Levi was a baritone. He had a higher range and register than Paul. I love this song by Paul Williams, he made you feel it.

GypsiQueen

THIS song was definitely a masterpiece with Paul Williams heartfelt lead vocals and the amazing harmony of the rest of the group along with The Andantes singing Back-up!!! BRILLIANT!!!!!!!

Gary Mayfield

That "Eddie is incredible in the background: unbelievable

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